#Chapter 43: True Passion

Abby The antiseptic smell of the hospital surrounds me, a cold, clinical scent that seems to hang in the air. I glance down at my arm, now wrapped in white gauze, the skin beneath it red and angry. The pain pulses with every heartbeat, but it’s a dull, manageable ache for now. “Abby, you should be heading home to rest,” the doctor’s firm voice breaks through my thoughts. He’s an older man, silver hair and a gentle, fatherly demeanor. “That burn needs time to heal, and you need time to recover.” “I understand, doctor,” I reply, doing my best to sound appreciative. “Thank you.” Karl waits just outside the small cubicle, flipping through a magazine. The fluorescent lights highlight the worry lines on his forehead. He looks up as I emerge, magazine forgotten. “All set?” I nod, reaching for my jacket with my uninjured arm. Karl moves quickly to help, his fingers brushing against mine. The touch is unintentional, but it sends a rush of warmth through me.